Christ anointed by Mary. (1–11)
He enters Jerusalem. (12–19)
Greeks apply to see Jesus. (20–26)
A voice from heaven bears testimony to (27–33)
Christ.
His discourse with the people. (34–36)
Unbelief of the Jews. (37–43)
Christ's address to them. (44–50)Verses 1–11
Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with much serving. But she did not leave
off serving, as some, who when found fault with for going too far in one way, peevishly run too
far another way; she still served, but within hearing of Christ's gracious words. Mary gave a token
of love to Christ, who had given real tokens of his love to her and her family. God's Anointed should
be our Anointed. Has God poured on him the oil of gladness above his fellows, let us pour on him
the ointment of our best affections. In Judas a foul sin is gilded over with a plausible pretence. We
must not think that those do no acceptable service, who do it not in our way. The reigning love of
money is heart-theft. The grace of Christ puts kind comments on pious words and actions, makes
the best of what is amiss, and the most of what is good. Opportunities are to be improved; and those
first and most vigorously, which are likely to be the shortest. To consult to hinder the further effect
of the miracle, by putting Lazarus to death, is such wickedness, malice, and folly, as cannot be
explained, except by the desperate enmity of the human heart against God. They resolved that the
man should die whom the Lord had raised to life. The success of the gospel often makes wicked
men so angry, that they speak and act as if they hoped to obtain a victory over the Almighty himself.
Verses 12–19
Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by all the evangelists. Many excellent things,
both in the word and providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first acquaintance with
the things of God. The right understanding of spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our
misapplying the Scriptures which speak of it.
Verses 20–26
In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our
souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace
from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase
unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without
becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he might have entered heaven alone, by his
own perfect righteousness, without suffering or death; but then no sinner of the human race could
have been saved. The salvation of souls hitherto, and henceforward to the end of time, is owing to